8 Tips to Help You Cook Faster

Looking to cook faster? We’re sharing our top tips for how you can have dinner on the table in no time. 

There are times for kitchen dance parties; then there are times when getting dinner on the table is a race against the clock. We’re sharing our top tips for those busy weeknights where you still want a wholesome, delicious dinner but are limited on time.
While a quick dinner can depend on the type of recipe and ingredients you’re using, it can also come down to some simple tricks we use to cut down on prep and cook time so you can capitalize on eating time.

Set Up Your Kitchen for Success

When it comes to a kitchen, many think bigger is better. But we’re here to tell you bigger isn’t better, efficiency and organization are. Having an efficiently organized kitchen saves time and stress when it comes to dinnertime. Read all about our kitchen organization tips here.

Ingredient Prep When Possible

We’ve all heard of meal prep, but we’re big fans of ingredient prep. Instead of prepping your entire meal, spend some time preparing your ingredients. So whether it’s spending an hour on the weekend or a little extra time on a free evening–washing, peeling, or cutting your produce can go a long way when it comes to saving time when you go to make dinner.

Read (or think) through the recipe. 

Whether you’re working through a recipe or a familiar family favourite, thinking through what you have to do is essential to staying efficient in the kitchen. Knowing the recipe steps beforehand helps avoid going back and forth between instructions and prep, so you can move quickly, efficiently, and confidently through dinnertime.

Turn on your oven first. 

There’s a reason most recipes tell you to preheat your oven first – it can take a long time. By preheating your oven right away, you’ll be moving and grooving through your recipe. 

Use a kettle for a quick boil. 

Shorten your boil time by using your kettle! Just turn on your kettle, and once it comes to a boil, pour it into a pot on the stove over medium-high heat to keep the temperature high.

Cut your ingredients into smaller pieces. 

Small pieces cook faster; it’s basic science. A quartered potato cooks quicker than a whole potato. Take this into account when limited on time.

Clean as you go. 

Clean up can be half the battle sometimes. I’ll be the first to admit that I need to be better at this. But cleaning as you go means you won’t have to deal with a sink full of dishes to wash. It’s also a good idea to keep a small bowl for composting beside you while you prep; it’s a great way to keep the mess minimal and the cleanup time quick. Just take your compost bowl full of peels and either add to your food waste bin or store in an air-tight container in your freezer to make stock later.

When in doubt, HelloFresh has your back. 

We get it; sometimes, planning, shopping, and cooking can become a lot, especially on busy weeknights. Let us take care of the planning and the shopping for you. We’ll deliver everything you need for a delicious home-cooked meal to your door, ready for you to get cooking. With an extensive menu and various recipe options like 20-Min Meals, you can have a dinner everyone will love on the table in no time. Order your first box here!